SRSG meets Baghdad Governorate Council Chairman, Concerned by Unprecedented Use of Flooding in Abu-Ghraib

BAGHDAD, 23 April 2014 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, today chaired an enlarged meeting between Baghdad Governorate Council Chairman Mr. Riyad Al-Adhadh and his accompanied delegation, and representatives of the UN Country Team in Iraq. They discussed how the UN can assist in dealing with the devastating effects of the flooding in Abu-Ghraib and Fallujah that now endangers other areas.

“We are facing a serious and concerning humanitarian situation, caused by the unprecedented use of water resources by terrorist groups in an area where fighting between the Iraqi Security Forces and armed groups continues, Mr. Mladenov said. “The UN is ready to provide assistance, in coordination with the Government of Iraq and the local authorities, to address the immediate needs of the thousands of families affected by the flooding”, he added. The SRSG consequently requested the UN Country Team to work together hand in hand with the Iraqi authorities to identify those needs, including shelter, food, water and sanitation, Core Relief Items, as well as medical assistance, life-saving medicine and vaccines to prevent any disease due to water stagnation.